Ladies turn it around at Palace

Angela Addison grabbed the winning goal as Spurs Ladies pegged back Crystal Palace Ladies to win 2-1 at Hayes Lane and maintain their 100 per cent league record, writes Rosie Bonass.

Kallie Balfour had given the hosts the lead after she converted an early penalty kick but soon afterwards, Rianna Dean scored her third goal of the season to cancel out the home side’s advantage. Young Addison secured the three points in the second half as she netted her first league goal for the club.

Victory in the London derby meant that Spurs Ladies moved up to second place in the FA Women’s Championship after their third straight league victory. They are now the only team in the league yet to drop points this season.

The Ladies sit just one point off top spot with a game in hand after last Sunday’s scheduled league fixture against Sheffield United Women was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Karen Hills made three changes to the team which beat Leicester City Women in their previous game as Chloe Morgan reclaimed her place in goal, Lucia Leon replaced Sophie McLean and Addison came in for Jessica Naz, who has joined up with the England squad for the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship qualifying round in Croatia.

Palace went ahead in the seventh minute as a late challenge from Renée Hector in the 18-yard box on Hope Nash resulted in a penalty which Balfour struck with power past Morgan, into the bottom right corner.

Seven minutes later, Megen Lynch failed to deal with a dangerous cross in from Megan Wynne as she parried the ball into Dean’s path and the striker made no mistake from close range to equalise for Spurs Ladies.

Mid-way through the second half, Addison grabbed what proved to be the decisive goal after she latched on to a delicate through ball from Coral-Jade Haines to loft the ball over Lynch into the back of the net.

But the visitors were made to work as Palace pressed for an equaliser and came close on two occasions following Addison’s goal. Both chances for the hosts came from Balfour as she rattled the crossbar with a thunderous strike from the edge of the penalty area and then moments later she almost poked the ball in from close range, but thankfully Morgan reacted quickly to clear the danger.

Key moment

A quick response was needed after Palace took an early lead – and Dean supplied that within seven minutes of her side falling behind.

That gave Spurs an even footing and allowed them to push on and eventually win the game.

Match reaction

Head Coach Juan Amoros acknowledged that the team wasn’t firing on all cylinders but was pleased to see them grind out a result.

“We are very pleased because it wasn’t our best game but we came out on top and deserved to win,” he said. “On the other side of things we need to be demanding with ourselves and the players know we could have done some things better.

“We want to achieve something and we must look at the things we haven’t done so well today, but overall of course we are happy.

“They (Crystal Palace Ladies) took their chance early but the players tried and tried and in the end they got the reward. The players were mentally strong and I’m pleased with how they managed the game.”

Match-winner Addison said: “We were talking in the dressing room about me peeling off wide before making my run into the middle and that’s what I did. The ball got through to me, I just threw my body at it and it went in.

“It was tough, scrappy and physical and it wasn’t a pretty game, but we came out with the win and that’s all that matters.

“We grew more and more into the game during the second half. We got better towards the end of the match after it had got a bit risky at one stage, but we got the win which is what we wanted.”

Match data

Goals: Crystal Palace Ladies – Kellie Balfour 7 (pen); Spurs Ladies – Rianna Dean 14, Angela Addison 65.

Referee: Simon Finnegan.

Venue: Hayes Lane, Bromley.